In premarket trade on Wednesday, Orbital Sciences shares were
down more than 15% after the company's unmanned Antares rocket
exploded shortly after taking off for the International Space
Station with about 5,000 pounds of supplies.

In a statement, Orbital
Sciences said that shortly after takeoff the rocket
experienced a "catastrophic failure."

No was hurt in the incident.

This was the third mission for Orbital under an eight-mission,
$1.9 billion contract with NASA.

In a statement, NASA official William
Gerstenmaier said: "While NASA is disappointed
that Orbital Sciences' third contracted resupply mission to the
International Space Station was not successful [on Tuesday], we
will continue to move forward toward the next attempt once we
fully understand today's mishap. The crew of the International
Space Station is in no danger of running out of food or other
critical supplies."

Gerstenmaier
added: "Orbital has demonstrated extraordinary capabilities in
its first two missions to the station earlier this year, and we
know they can replicate that success."